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Spiders, mites and other arthropods

 
• A Nightmare on Mic Street Part 3 of mini-series (Spiders) Feb.96
• The garden spider - why it doesn't get stuck in its own web Nov.97
• The leaping dancer - the jumping spider Nov.97
• Image of the month- garden spider jaws between crossed polars Feb.98
• Dustmites - a tale of lust, love and passion between the sheets A Valentine's day special Feb.98
• Stilt walker - the remarkable harvestman or daddy-long-legs Jul.98
• Big spiders - a fascinating article on the tarantula and other big spiders, including their biology and associations with man. Oct.98
• The spider's web part I - a look at the spider's web and the remarkable properties of spider's silk. Nov.98
• Spider's web part II - a further look at the spider's web, the remarkable properties of spider's silk and man's use of the web silk. Dec.98
• 'Ribbon' threads in the webs of brown spiders (Loxosceles spp.) - an intriguing form of spider silk which is extruded by species of this genus. Illustrated with scanning electron photomicrographs. Mar.02
• The small house spider, Badumna longinqua - interesting features of a common spider on the microscopic scale. Aug03
• Water mites - an introduction to this lesser studied group with stunning images. Dec.99
• Photomicrography of fur mites Jun.01
• Why ticks are so tricky  - some of the fascinating macro and microscopic features of a tick that make it such a 'tricky' pest. Jun.01
• What we can discover on a spider's leg - a photographic tour and description of the many features on a spider's leg. Jan.00
• Bright-eyed singers - a look at the fascinating wolf spider. And how to spot them from fifty feet away in the dark! Feb.99
• Ants, beetles and spiders - a look at the types of mimicry adopted by some spiders. Feb.00
• The zebra spider in 3D May.00
• Demodex, an inhabitant of human hair follicles May.00.
• Image gallery: Demodex mite - A selection of images and simple collecting method. Mar.02
• Of mites, nematodes and fungi - Jul.00
• Daddy-long-legs spider in 3D - Pholcus phalangioides. Oct.00
• Image gallery - includes garden spider images Jun.01
• Double-legged cylinders - millipedes. Jul.00
• Image of the month Wood louse Apr.97
• The millipede Apheloria corrugata Nov.04

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Techniques - various; projects, collecting and observation tips etc.

 
• Collecting and observing
• Microscopy on the move Using a portable microscope away from home Apr.97
• Take your (old) stereo microscope outdoors - how an old stereo 'scope can be used to good effect to study subjects outside. Feb.00
• Hiking with a field microscope Sep.01
• Field videomicrography - an Open University McArthur microscope + battery powered webcam = video microscopy in the field with a laptop! Sep.02
• A mitey fortress is our bog or the joys of nature - thoughts and experiences of collecting from outdoor habitats. Jan.02
• Inverted microscopes - a users first impressions Jul.98
• Inverted microscopes - practical advice on making home-made equipment for this type of microscope. Sep.98
• The classic '1200 times' microscope revisited - getting the best out of a toy microscope Dec.01
• A flatbed catalog - cataloguing specimens with a flatbed scanner Dec.01
• Scanning pond samples at high magnifications - tips for studying microorganisms at higher mags with notes on some of the fascinating protozoa that may be found. Jun.02
• Macro and micro image gallery - part 1 Jul.02
• The virtues of broken and dirty specimens - specimens that may be broken or dirty at the gross level but which are fascinating under the microscope. Oct.02
• Culturing and collecting micro-organisms safely -  practical advice for the microscopy enthusiast in this two part essay. Nov.02
• Collecting freshwater plankton by towing a net using a radio-controlled boat Dec.03
• A detachable neck flask technique to sample microinvertebrates from fine grained substrata Mar.05
• Wild cultures and subcultures: Part I Nov.06
• Making simple durable cells - a simple but effective technique for making cells of different thickness on microscope slides for studying aquatic microorganisms. May.07
• Simple pond sampling equipment - practical DIY projects for aquatic sampling. Mar.08
•  
• Projects and modifications
• A monocular microscope - how a simple but effective low power microscope can be assembled from a junk pair of binoculars. Sep.00
• A home-made portable microscope Jul.00
• Cleaning and adjusting the Open University McArthur portable microscope - a clear description with many illustrations of how to service this amazing microscope. Sep.99
• Simple modifications to the McArthur Open University microscope Sep.00
• How to build and calibrate a photo-plane lightmeter Dec.00
• A micro-centrifuge, cheap and easy Jul.00
• Critter grabber - a simple device for transferring microscopic organisms. Aug.00
• Observation tank for examining microscopic life forms from freshwater habitats- a practical project for making a thin section tank. Jul.99
• Vertical cell observation techniques - add a prism to objectives to view water troughs. Nov.00
• A DIY modular very low power compound microscope Jan.01
• Progress on a home-made transmission electron microscope Apr.01
• A refreshing device for heat sensitive critters Jun.01
• Build a simple aquarium objective for your microscope - hosted on the 'Beyond Magazine' web site. Jun.01
• Water immersion caps for pond water microscopy Jul.01
• A design for using an enlarger stand for photomicrography Aug.01
• A versatile low power microscopy set-up for a modified Russian Biolam stand Sep.01
• Reducing the image scale of the lowest power objective Sep.01
• How to make some plastic stereo-microscope accessories Nov.01
• Microscopy on a shoestring - a versatile stereo and compound microscope set-up with image capture can be assembled when on a budget. Mar.02
• Microscopy on a shoestring II: a homemade microscope adaptor for the Olympus C-960 digicam - further ingenious approaches to building up a versatile digital photomicrography system when on a budget. Apr.02
• Habitat for Lab Specimens and other uses for Common Household Items - includes Winogradsky plate project Aug.02
• Macro photography using a short tube microscope - a short tube microscope fitted with low power objectives and with digital camera attached can make a useful field microscope. Jan.02
• Adding X-Y stage coordinates to microscopes - a simple way to make verniers good enough for normal use, using an inkjet printer and a stage for the Zeiss Standard as an example. Jan.02
• Metallographic imaging with homebuilt instruments Apr.03
• Converting a LOMO monocular microscope to a binocular Dec.04
• Low power 'Köhler microscope' - an ingenious method of low power microscopy on a compound microscope with a built-in lamp, by putting the subject in the plane of the focussed field stop of the lamp. Dec.04
• A full size field microscope - a neat conversion of a functional Graf Apsco secondhand microscope into a field microscope. Feb.05
• A home-made, light-weight field microscope - an ingenious design using cheap items that can be found in junk shops. Apr.05
• A simple rotating stage attachment for the Zeiss Axiostar and other biological microscopes - an ingenious design for a robust and elegant rotating stage made from a CD, card and other home materials. Jul.05
• Fitting an AO (American Optical) substage with a Leitz Heine condenser Aug.05
• LOMO Biolam microscopes. Notes on refurbishing seized rotating stages - practical advice for a popular microscope. Sep.05
• Exploring the possibilities of single lens microscopes - results from an ongoing projects to make high power single lens microscopes, illustrated with images taken through them. Oct.05
• The challenge of grinding lenses for single lens microscopes - further developments of above project. Jan.06
  Improving the performance of the single lens microscope - using homemade doublets Jul.06
• Making an Antoni van Leeuwenhoek microscope replica - step by step instructions for making a replica using readily available materials. Jul.07
• Measuring the magnification of homemade simple microscope lenses - a simple but accurate measuring method which formed part of trials at making lenses to defined magnifications; attaining excellent agreement between theory and practice. Oct.07
• LOMO Biolam microscopes: Notes on refurbishing the oblique condenser and condenser diaphragm Mar.06
• Repair of the LOMO NA 1.40 condenser Aug.06
• Adapting parts to develop a working microscope Jul.06
• DIY: an inverted microscope with electronic focussing - ingenious design for a low power microscope e.g. for pond life studies using the optics and electronics from an old CD drive. Aug.06
• Building a high power simple pocket microscope - an ingenious design using lenses which the author has ground himself. Dec.06
• A novel method for making miniature lenses - a simpler technique for making these lenses, presented in an easy to follow illustrated format. Jun.07
• Restoring a stereo microscope base with reverse electrolysis Feb.07
• The iris diaphragm. Prospects of repair? Feb.07
  Making special tools - how expensive tools can often be made using common items, in this case the tool to centre the Leitz phase condenser was made from a key to wind up mechanical clocks. Mar.07
• Restoring an American Optical Cycloptic stereo microscope - ingenious methods of restoring both mechanically and cosmetically an example of this microscope in poor condition. Mar.07
• Making a van Leeuwenhoek microscope lens - using items from around the house. Apr.07
• A homemade stage for stereo microscopes - a neat design suitable for many models. Aug.07
• Used phase condensers. Servicing the Wild M20's phase condenser - an easy to follow illustrated guide for users of this classic microscope. Aug.07

•  
• Tips and tricks
• Topical tips 1 - useful containers, holding dead insects, DIY pond/stream net Oct.97
• Topical tips 2 - using old projector lenses, filters, objectives, lamps, flare spots Nov.98
• Topical tips 3 - how an A4 flatbed scanner can be used to catalogue microscope slides as well as create digitised images of large whole mounts. Plus an easy to make portable microscope. Feb.99
• Topical Tips 4 - pond life trough, using clip-on sunglasses for Polaroid filters, darkfield without a condenser Aug.00
• Topical tips 5 - cases for microscopes plus using the Russian aplanatic condenser Mar.01
• Topical tips 6 - field/portable microscopes, containers, pipette cleaning Jul.01
• Topical tips 7 - sealing temporary flud mounts, low power objectives Nov.01
• Topical tips 8 - using condensers at low powers, and measuring eyepoints of eyepieces to be used with consumer digital cameras. Jan.02
• Topical tips 9 - The versatile eyepece reticle. Reticles are useful slide subjects for checking various aspects of a microscope set-up, and are often a free bonus when buying secondhand eyepieces. Apr.02
• Topical tips 10 - printing a calibrated reticle - creating a usable eyepiece reticle by printing on clear sheet. A downloadable image file to print out is supplied. May.02
• Topical tips 11: Adding a lamp diaphragm (or field stops) to a modern microscope without one Sep.02
• Topical tips 12: formalin and formaldehyde - the correct terminology, uses and desired concentrations of this versatile reagent when used in microscopy. Oct.02
• Topical tips 13: Calibrating a condenser iris - a tip to label the preferred condenser iris settings for each objective when undertaking photomicrography. Nov.02
• Topical tips 14. Using computer monitor stands for microscopes Jul.04
• Topical tips 15: Using aquarist test kits for simple analysis of 'pond dipping' sample Mar.05
• Topical tips 16. Cheap 'n cheerful flash / tungsten lighting combo for a LOMO or similar microscope with a mirror - a simple but effective set-up which requires no DIY. Aug.05
• Topical tip. Building simple centring adjusters for microscope rotating stages Mar.06
• Inexpensive water-immersion microscopy - practical advice on this interesting technique. Sep.98
• The ubiquitous 10X objective Aug.01
• The delicate lens: Thoughts concerning cleaning and scratches Nov.01
• Lens cleaning: best practice review - a valuable overview of recommended practices for cleaning microscope optics front lens surfaces and the precautions that need to be taken. Feb.04Some thoughts on microscope maintenance and repair - practical advice and tips for servicing the type of microscopes a hobbyist may own. Oct.07
• Oddities and entitities - miscellany of hints and practical tips on various aspects of microscopy. Jan.08
• Customizing a stereo 'scope for archaeological studies - modifications to a Zeiss stereo and shows a design for a homemade subject manipulator. May.08

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Techniques - lighting and light sources

 
• Introduction to microscopy: illumination methods compared - striking images of an Amoeba using brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast and DIC to compare the merits of these techniques. Dec.99
• Optical illusions and the microscope - an example of why images of subjects under the microscope need to be interpreted with care. Dec.00
• The eye and the microscope - some thoughts concerning our eyes and illumination methods when observing through the microscope. Jun.01
• Homage to the onion skin - Walter Dioni describes how this classic subject helped spark his lifelong interest in microscopy and uses it as an example to show the relative merits of many different lighting techniques.
• The eye and illumination with the brightfield microscope - 'the suitability of visual imaging with various illumination techniques', illustrated with examples. Dec.05
• Back to basics - getting the most out of equipment Feb.06
•  
• Polarisation
• The colourful world of chemical crystals - compilation of studies of chemicals under microscopes started May.06
• Technicolour nature - using polarised light Jun.96
• Technicolour nature - crystals under polarised light Part 2 of this series for Novices Jul. 96
• Subjects for Polarised Light Microscopy - transforming many microscopy subjects into technicolour images Jun.97
• Items to observe with polarized light: An annotated list Oct.01
• Preparation of crystals for observation - practical advice on the different approaches for making crystal mounts for 'polar' observation. Aug.07
• The polarizing microscope: modifications to a biological microscope and use of the dedicated XPT-7 (Brunel SP-70) Jun.03
• A variable compensator for polarising microscopes - how a cleaved mica square in a homemade rotating mount below the condenser can be used to make an elegant and competent compensator with no special skills. Apr.06
• 'Polar exploration' on a budget -  how simple modifications to the budget LOMO Biolam with rotating stage can make it a competent student polarising microscope. Apr.06
  Polarising microscope filters - historical, technical and practical aspects of using polarising filters, with special reference to the Wild M21 microscope. Sep.07
• Notes on simple polarisation experiments with micas using a student microscope - micas are easy to study minerals and can be used to demonstrate interference colours and interference (conoscopic) figures. Sep.03
• Samworth's Snippets - paracetamol under cross polars, Norbert's ruling machine. Dec. 96
• Samworth's Snippets - further experiments with cross polars Dec.97
• Magic windows - making slides for viewing between crossed polars Nov.97
• A history lesson on cross polars - how Polaroid was developed, with stunning image of Vitamin C Feb.98
• Biological polarized light microscopy - cross polarised light can reveal fascinating aspects of live creatures, e.g. the muscles of Daphnia. Sep.99
• Slides for use with crossed polars - slides you can buy from us Jul.97
• Multi-coloured macro - common objects around the home can be used to create attractive images when viewed in polarised light and photographed in close-up. Jan.00
• Image gallery: Further macros of common objects photographed between two polarisation filters Oct.01
• Simple macro experiments using crossed polarizers - a simple and safe lighting set-up that could be used e.g. for children to have fun with the colourful effects created when suitable household objects are viewed through crossed polarizing filters. Sep.04
• Micro-crystals in polarised light and how to grow them Jan.01
• Image of the month Sulphur crystals under cross polarised light. Aug.96
• Crystal image gallery - the same crystals prepared under different conditions can exhibit a colourful variety of forms. Feb.01
• Crystal image gallery II - how experimenting with just one chemical can create a variety of beautiful images in polarized light. Mar.02
• A gallery of liquid crystal photomicrographs - an attractive selection of images with 'a brief discussion of what makes this form of matter so interesting'. Sep.03
• A gallery of hippuric acid photomicrographs (using polarized light) - a beautiful selection of images using this classic chemical with accompanying notes on how to prepare such slides. Nov.03
• Crystals and polarization: A few additional thoughts - chemicals that can be found around the home to study between crossed polarisation filters. Mar.02
• Leftovers - discarded items from the domestic medicine cabinet can be useful to the microscopy enthusiast. Aug.02
• An introduction to the polariscope and fern scales Aug.02
• Some images in cross polar illumination Oct.02 taken with an IntelPlay QX3. Oct.02
• Micro-Art gallery #1 - crystals - chemicals available in the home when viewed between crossed polarisation filters. Apr.03
• Growing and photographing crystals Nov.04
• Image gallery: Crystals between crossed polars and under darkfield - an attractive gallery of prepared slides of crystals. May.03
• A gallery of ascorbic acid photomicrographs - includes notes on using the Nikon Coolpix 4500 for photomicrography. Jun.03
• A gallery of 1-nitroso-2-naphthol photomicrographs - a beautiful selection of images taken with the Coolpix 4500 digicam. Jul03
• A gallery of benzoin oxime photomicrographs - an attractive series of images taken using darkfield illumination and polarized light. Jan.04
• A gallery of sulphur photomicrographs (using polarized light) - a stunning selection of images with guidelines for preparing slides of this chemical element. Mar.04
• A gallery of irreplaceable photomicrographs. Melt specimens of thioacetamide, testosterone and liquid crystal illuminated by polarized light May04
• A gallery of l-asparagine photomicrographs (using a variety of illumination techniques) Jul.04
• A gallery of potassium chlorate photomicrographs Sep.04
• A gallery of testosterone photomicrographs using polarized light illumination Nov.04
• A gallery of caffeine photomicrographs (using a variety of illumination techniques) - a selection of images of this chemical with notes on how they were taken. Jan.05
• A gallery of l-arginine photomicrographs using a variety of illumination techniques Mar.05
• A demonstration of the use of quarter & whole wave plates to alter the colouration of polarized light photomicrographs - how polarisation filters can be used creatively to take images of crystals. Jan.05
• A gallery of urea photomicrographs (using polarized light) - a striking selection of images of this quite easily acquired chemical. May.05
• A gallery of salicylic acid photomicrographs using a variety of illumination techniques) - attractive images that can be obtained from chemicals using polar, phase and other techniques. Jul.05
• A gallery of maleic acid photomicrographs (using a variety of illumination techniques) - striking images can be achieved with different chemicals. Sep.05
• A gallery of palmitic acid photomicrographs (using a variety of illumination techniques) Nov.05
• A gallery of n-butyl-p-aminobenzoate photomicrographs (using a variety of illumination techniques) Jan.06
• A gallery of acetoacetanilide photomicrographs Mar.06
• A gallery of nickel nitrate photographs May.06
  A gallery of resorcinol photomicrographs Jul.06
• A gallery of benzoic acid photomicrographs Sep.06
• A gallery of benzoic acid photomicrographs (using polarized light illumination) Nov.06
• A gallery of tetramethyldiaminodiphenylmethane photomicrographs (using a variety of illumination techniques) Jan.07
  A gallery of beta-naphthyl acetate photomicrographs (using a variety of illumination techniques) Mar.07
• A gallery of beta-alanine & dl-alpha-alanine photomicrographs - striking images of this amino acid using polarised light. May.07
• A gallery of citric acid photomicrographs Jul.07
• A gallery of cobaltous nitrate photomicrographs Sep.07
• A gallery of vanillin photomicrographs using polarised light illumination Nov.07
• A gallery of ammonium sulphate photomicrographs Jan.08
• Potassium acetate crystals or, the disappearance thereof ... Nov.06
• Caprice in C: Vitamin C revisited Oct.07
• Sulphur - an illustrated look at how to prepare slides of this element and describes the forms it can take. Mar.08
• Studying the OU S260 thin rock sections under the microscope Feb.04
• Open University S260 thin rock sections. Selected image gallery - an image gallery to complement the article. Feb.04
• Rhapsody in C: Vitamin C. Part I - a striking selection of images of this chemical as part of an essay on common household chemicals. Jun.05
• Non-obese rocks and minerals Thin rock sections. Jan.06
• A micro-Rothko gallery of crystals Magnesium chloride crystals Mar.06
• Alkoxybenzoic acids liquid crystals May.06
• How to milk a weed, part II; looking at crystals in plant juices Aug.06
• 'Polar animals' - photomicrographs of subjects from the animal kingdom under polarised light - selection of images of Victorian slides taken using a Nikon D50 digital SLR camera and Zeiss optics. Sep.06
• A miniature variable compensator for older stands - an ingenious homemade design requiring no engineering skills that can sit on the eyepiece, made for a few dollars cf very expensive commercial compensators. Nov.06
• Notes on mica in the light train of a transmitted polarized microscope Nov.06
• More ascorbic acid images ... a favourite polarization chemical Dec.06
• Substage polar control lighting units (Part 2) - 'efforts to generate a hybrid illumination technique between COL and Phase Contrast'. Nov.07
• Image gallery: Movement in polar photomicroscopy - introducing movement during exposure for artistic effect. Feb.08
• Hybrid polarizing microscopes - how to adapt both compound biological microscopes and stereo microscopes for qualitative polarising studies. Mar.08
• Dispersion staining - an introduction to this technique and shows an example of its application. May.08
• Dispersion staining without specialised objectives - using modified standard objectives for this technique. Jun.08

•  Darkfield, incident, oblique, phase contrast
• Easy to make contrast enhancement filters for the microscope - filters for dark-field, oblique and Rheinberg illumination, with stunning examples of their use. Apr.02
• Making dark-field illumination is easy - an introduction to this versatile and beautiful illumination technique Dec.97
• Have you tried dark-field on that specimen? - many subjects benefit from the technique Jun.98
• Dark-field lighting with phase annuli May.01
• Why I like darkfield illumination - an illustrated article on the merits of darkfield illumination cf other contrast enhancement techniques. Mar.04
• Image gallery: Montage of freshwater life photographed using dark-field illumination Apr.01
• Nature center microscope with darkfield capability - a neat design of patch stops, with comparison images of the typical results it can produce. Mar.03
• Topical Tip: Notes on using the LOMO darkfield condenser OI-13 for both darkfield and annular brightfield Sep.07
• Simple 'top lighting' with a compound microscope - or how to study subjects you can't get light through! Feb.98
• Incident lighting and the Lieberkuhn speculum - a look at Victorian and more recent methods of incident lighting. Sep.98
• Oblique illumination - or why having the mirror or condenser out of alignment sometimes helps! Apr.98
• Oblique and axial illumination - can be used to study opaque subjects under the microscope. Apr.99
• Circular oblique lighting Part I - an interesting variation on lighting which has benefits for some subjects. Dec.02
• Circular oblique lighting. Part 2 - further studies of this interesting form of illumination and simple techniques for creating it. Jan.02
• Circular oblique lighting. Part 3. Some final odds and ends Feb.03
• Circular oblique lighting. Part 4 Oct.03
• Off axis COL illumination illustrations of soil amoeba Dec.04
• Off-axis COL update - further studies of a variant of COL using a 40x objective in particular. May.08
• Oblique darkfield illumination - how this effect can be created using a phase condenser to give excellent imagery. May.05
• Illumination variants - a variation of oblique illumination which gives attractive results with subjects like diatoms. Feb.00
• Polarised oblique lighting - combining two lighting techniques. Feb.01
• The Mathias arrow, a versatile oblique lighting device Oct.03
• An illustration of different lighting techniques Jul.01
• Phase microscopy. Is it worth having? 'Nuts and bolts for the prospective user' Aug.02
• Colour phase contrast - how to achieve colour phase contrast with a brightfield condenser, with illustrations of the potential of this technique. Mar.04
• DIY DIC - how to create Nomarski like effects with simple filter techniques. Nov.02
• Phase contrast illumination of crystals - under phase contrast certain crystals and slides can give some superb results. Apr.03
• Cheap 'n cheerful phase contrast with a LOMO Biolam or similar student microscope - how competent phase contrast microscopy can be enjoyed on a typical student microscope at modest expense. Sep.04
• Microscopes, filters, diaphragms and stops Dec.03
• Making a phase telescope - ingenious ways of making a phase telescope from old eyepieces. Jun.05
• The auxiliary microscope / phase telescope. A short note on a useful device no longer in production - Paul James (UK) describes the R&J Beck example of this versatile accessory. Aug.05
• Phase contrast microscopy Mar.06
• Water immersion phase contrast - the advantages of this less well known variant of phase, illustrated with the affordable LOMO example of this type of objective. Jun.07
• Used phase condensers - 'some notes for aspiring phase contrast enthusiasts'. Part 1. Jul.07
• Topical Tip: achieving darkground illumination using a microscope with no Abbe condenser - a simple technique using stops at the field lens. Jul.07
• LOMO phase contrast - the features of, and offers usage tips for, this very competent phase outfit for the popular LOMO stand. Nov.07
• Low power phase contrast - Nikon 4x objective phase on a Wild M40 stand. Jan.08
•  
• Other types, and lighting projects
• Illumination variants, diffuse lighting Mar.00
• Rheinberg illumination: add color to your viewing Sep.00
• 'Colour Magic' - magic colour - LEE Filter's pack of 'Colour Magic' acetate filters are excellent for microscopy lighting techniques such as Rheinberg. Sep.05
• Notes on adapting microscopes for phase contrast Apr.99
• Micscape tip: making a condenser annular ring for a phase objective Jan.01
• Adapting the Open University portable microscope for use with a white LED light source Jul.99
• Using a white LED in the Open University portable microscope - a simple method of providing lighting for this popular microscope. Oct.99
• LED illumination for microscopes May04
• An interesting light source for microscopes - how a very cheap but powerful LED torch available in shops can form the basis of a useful microscope lamp. May.03
• Design considerations for the ideal Köhler illuminator. The white LED as a microscope illuminant a valuable overview of this topic and shows a practical design for a lamp, illustrated with typical results. Aug.03
• Taking microscopes from the stone age with high wattage LEDs a design for Wild M40 and similar microscopes. Feb06
  'Star' LEDs for two LOMO microscopes Mar.06
• An inexpensive LED cold light Jun.06
• Using high power LEDS in epi-illuminator systems - a design for 'LED epi' using the Olympus BHM metallurgical microscope as a example. Jun.06
• Fiber optics light, a home project - cold light sources are expensive. A design for the experienced DIY enthusiast or electrician. Jan.00
• Using fiber optic illumination Mar.00
• Let there be light: Scoping with fibre optics - a neat way of retrofitting a compound microscope's internal incandescent lamp with a fibre optic light source. Mar.04
• Light box for a stereo microscope Oct.96
• Do-it-yourself illuminator upgrade Jan.01
• Filter holders, filters and more filter holders - how to solve use more than one filter needs at a time. Feb.01
• Drawing your microscopic subjects. Part 1- Drawing from the screen of your computer Sep.02
• Drawing your microscopic subjects. Part 2 - download some sheets of high quality scales and grids which will be very useful for the microscope when drawing or taking measurements. Nov.02
• A 'good enough' stage micrometer - how to make a workable stage micrometer with a high resolution printer. Oct.02
• A heavy calibre microscope lamp -  for high magnification phase / darkfield photography. Oct.02
• Size is a relative thing - a useful way of inserting scale bars into a digital image using readily available software. Aug.03
• When the light goes out - temporary or permanent light sources/mounts when a specialist microscope bulb fails, using the Wild M20 stand as an example. Apr.03
• Electronic flash system for a microscope - an effective flash system for his microscope illustrated with excellent examples. Jan.05
• Notes on using a cheap LED torch on a LOMO stereo microscope and a compound microscope - a cheap LED torch from the local supermarket works well as an incident light. Jul.05
• Notes on some lighting options for secondhand LOMO Biolam microscopes - an interactive guide; also mostly applicable to any microscope with a mirror requiring external lighting. Nov.05
• A solid lampholder and mirror holder - for MBC-10 LOMO stereo Jul.06
• Quick 'n easy flash photomicrography on a microscope with a built-in lamp - placing a flashgun on the microscope lamp base is an easy way of using flash. Jul.06
• Experiments with a simple light source: revisiting an old illumination technique - using a small fluorescent tube in a 35mm slide viewing box to recreate the 'edge of flame' technique of Victorians. Aug.06
• Sub-bench illumination - pros and cons of installing lighting below a bench for microscopes requiring an external lamp and shows a typical design. Aug.06
• The Wild M21 polarising microscope and LEDs Oct.06
• Reducing lighting anomalies in low-medium power darkfield Illumination Oct.06
• Köhler illumination for the LOMO microscope Nov.06
• Portable illumination with K2 LED for a small Leitz microscope Dec.06
• Illumination experiments with a simple microscope Dec.06
  Luxeon K2 LED - a modified Bausch and Lomb microscope to accept LED lighting; illustrated with examples of pond life organisms and video clips. Mar.07
• Topical tip: the versatile 'light panel' - the new slim line light box for viewing 35 mm slides has a variety of uses. Mar.07
• Homemade LED light sources for epi-illumination Apr.07
• K2 Luxeon Star LED update - an update of an earlier project and describes a better power supply. Jun.07
• Topical Tip: A simple flash / tungsten lighting setup for a microscope with built in base lamp - a simple but effective variant of the angled glass plate design in use on a Zeiss stand. Jun.07
• Notes on adapting a Nikon Labophot 1 stand for LED use - this model's lamphouse is particularly suitable for LED adaptation and for studies where 'on the fly' changes of LED wavelength are useful. Aug.07
• Substage polar control lighting unit - an ingenious but simple method for changing between lighting techniques such as COL and phase without disturbing the condenser when viewing e.g. sensitive aquatic organisms. Oct.07
• Topical Tip: high brightness 1 Watt LED dimmer - a homebrew circuit design suitable for this type of microscope lamp adaptation. Nov.07
• The simplest possible microscope lamp Dec.07
• Diffuse sourced lamphouse modification - method for improving the evenness of light emitted from lamps with less than ideal condensers. Mar.08
• Using light emitting diodes with fibre optic systems Apr.08
• An overview of LEDs in microscopy Jun.08
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Techniques - microtechnique; slide preparation, processes, lab. equipment etc

 
• Slide preparation
• Mic-UK slide-making projects - a down to earth look at how various techniques can be used to make your own slides. Includes hand-sectioning, bench microtome use, mounting (& fructose as mountant) and wax-embedding. Feb.00
• Permanent slides: pros and cons - a practical look at the problems and pleasures of making slides, with suggestions and tips for mounting. Mar.99
• Microscopy tip - glycerine jelly mounts Apr 96
• Micscape practical tip: A quick and easy way to make dry mounts - Jul.00
• Slide Mounting Made Easy - Loctite - using a glass bond glue to make permanent mounts May.97
• About microscopy and the chemistry of nail polish Aug.02
• Papyrus from the Lower Nile - making a slide Apr.00
• Silverizing 'forams' - silver staining foraminifera. Plus notes on making micro-forceps and micro-needles to handle 'forams'. Jul.99
• Make your own silver - how to grow silver crystals on a microscope slide to produce seasonal looking images. Dec.98
• Photographing snowflakes - techniques and tips for photographing these elusive subjects. Feb.00
• Snow crystal photography May.01
• How to preserve a snowflake - how to encapsulate snowflakes using various techniques. Feb.00
• Painting snowflakes Nov.00
• More notes on photography of snow crystals or snowflakes Mar.03
• Growing crystals with hourglass inclusions under the microscope Sep.00
• The repair of broken coverslips on paper covered slides Mar.00
• The construction of a Victorian type dry-mounted slide - how to reconstruct a splendid 'papered' slide of Foraminifera. Feb.00
• Producing numbered grids for display and identification on arranged microscope slides- how to create attractive grids or lettering for arranged slides of e.g. 'forams' just using simple photographic techniques and imaging software. Nov.99
• The myriad uses of slide-ringing tables Jan.01
• A simple cell for dry mounting Oct.01
• Well slides - a number of practical designs for making cavity slides to study microscopic organisms. Mar.02
• A slide ringer made from a discarded VCR Aug.02
• A hand sharpener for a microtome knife Oct.02
• Cover glass dispenser - a description of how this ingenious dispenser purchased works as it provides a possible basis for DIY versions. Dec.05
• Making selected diatom slides Oct.06
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• Processes
• A method for preserving certain insects and arachnids - or a new use for nail varnish! Jan.00
• Vital staining for protozoa and other related mounting techniques - some valuable techniques for staining protozoa whilst alive. Feb.00
• Some stains for amateur microscopy - using food dyes as easily accessible reagents. May04
• A note on demonstrating food vacuoles in ciliates May.00
• A bit of basic microtechnique as applied to protists - practical suggestions for studying protozoa, including slowing their movement when studying live and preserving techniques. May.02
• Natural asphyxia - methods to relax micro-invertebrates. Oct.00
• Speaking of fixation - overview of fixing specimens Oct.00
• Speaking of fixation, part 2 - includes a discussion on the use of microwave ovens. Dec.00
• Experiments on relaxing microorganisms with very dilute formalin Jul.02
• An observation - cedarwood oil versus xylene as a clearing agent - is cedarwood oil a superior clearing agent for some subjects; readers' own experiences welcomed. Dec.00
• The fluid rocking of a suspension of Foraminifera as a means of concentrating samples for the preparation of strews Apr.01
• Safe microscopic techniques for amateurs. I: Mounting microscopic subjects - Part 1: Introduction - liquid media. Practical advice and protocols on using reagents available to the enthusiast. Dec.02
• Safe microscopic techniques for amateurs. I: Mounting microscopic subjects - Part 2: Soldifying media. In the second article in this series. The merits of and protocols for using sucrose, fructose, glucose with/without gum arabic as slide mountants.
• Safe microscopic techniques for amateurs. Mounting microscopic subjects. Part 3 - Mixed mounting media - In part A of this three part article; fructoglycerol and modified Brun's medium as mountants. Mar.03
• Safe microscopic techniques for amateurs. Mounting microscopic subjects. Part 3b - Mixed mounting media - In part B of this three part article; PVA-lactic acid and PVA-glycerol as mountants. Apr.03
• Safe microscopic techniques for amateurs. Mounting microscopic subjects. Part 3c - Gum arabic media - In part B of this three part article; gum arabic based based mountants are assessed.
• Safe microscopical reagents for amateurs. Mounting microscopic subjects. Part 4 -Glycerine jellies. Part 5 - Mountant summary - mountants based on glycerine jelly and summary of best mountants for given subjects in the series. Aug.03
• Polyvinylalcohol with glycerol adive on the preparation procedure Nov.04
• No formalin, no mercury, new fixers: Part 1 -  safe and accessible fixers. Jul03
• No formalin, no mercury fixatives. Part 2 - some reagents that are both accessible and that can be safely used by the amateur. Sep.03
• Alternative mounting media revisited - a review of the best mountants in the above series of articles. Jun.03.
• Botanical Microtechnique Part 1. Fixing, dehydrating & embedding plant material - a series on botanical microtechniques that are of particular value to the microscopy enthusiast finding it difficult to source reagents. Feb.04
  Botanical microtechnique Part 2: Staining botanical sections - a selection of useful staining protocols accessible to the microscopy enthusiast. Mar.04
• Dicotyledon stem: for the beginner botanist from a beginner botanist - a zoologist, describes his trials at using a simple home microtome to study and photograph the features of a typical dicotyledon plant, Portulaca. Feb.04
• Copper salts, ciliates, and a taxonomic puzzle - relaxants for studying protists and attempts to identify a Spirostomum species. Apr.05
• A few risk, hazard, and safety issues for amateur microscopists - a valuable overview of these topics for hobbyists. May.05
• Eosin as a nuclear stain in botany and as an economical substitute in zoology Apr.06
• Cleaning diatom samples - step-by-step methods of cleaning these popular subjects using techniques and materials suitable for the enthusiast. Aug.06
• Nigrosin: a different kind of staining technique - the versatility of this stain for air dried protozoa. Sep.06
• Making your own squash slides @ home - preparing slides of cell division in plant roots using techniques and materials available to the enthusiast. Dec.06
  Making your own paraffin sections @ home: Part 1 - practical methods using techniques and materials available to the enthusiast. Jan.07
• Making your own paraffin sections @ home (part 2) - preparing the wax blocks and microtome use Feb.07
  Making your own paraffin sections @ home (part 3) - the types and use of various non-rotary microtome models. Mar.07
• Harris' hematoxylin: fixing and staining protozoa - the usefulness of this stain and shares protocols for its use. Aug.07
• Reconstituting preserved specimens - some advice on samples that need some attention. Nov.07
• Preparing and using your own hematein staining solutions using crude logwood - techniques for preparing and using this stain. Apr.08
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• Equipment
• A simple glycerine jelly heater - plagued by bubbles in glycerine jelly mounts? Here's a simple heater to remove them. Feb.99
• Home-made hand microtomes - two practical approaches Dec.97
• Equipping a laboratory. Part 1: Dissecting tools Jul.00
• Equipping a laboratory. Part 2: Glassware and related accessories Sep.00
• Equipping a laboratory: Part 3: Special glassware and some other apparatus Nov.00
• Equipping a laboratory: Part 4: Collecting equipment Jan.01
• Micro tools for microscopy Nov.01
• A cheap and precise slicer for studying botany - an improved design of the double razor blade slicer for botanical section cutting. Apr.04
• Technical tips on the use of the precise double razor blades slicer - A supplementary article to the above. Apr.04
• Notes on using a Victorian compressorium on a modern microscope - observations on using one design of compressorium on a modern stand. Apr.08

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Techniques - photomicrography using a film camera

 
• Photomicrography A few simple set-ups for beginners Mar.97
• Very basic photomicrography - you don't need expensive 'kit' to have a go Oct.97
• Three ways to take micrographsAug. 01
• Photomicrography on a shoestring budget - Apr.99
• Micscape Image gallery II - Paramecium taken with a student microscope and box camera 40 years ago ... and a very important message on photomicrography. Oct.98
• Electronic Flash System for Photomicrography Feb.97
• Black and white photography - practical advice on this under-used and under-rated form of photography through the microscope. Nov.98
• Adapting a flash gun for photomicrography - a simple but effective adaptation of a flash gun for photomicrography. Jun.99
• 35 mm photomicrography techniques: Automated focus and exposure - a dedicated electronic flash unit that automatically controls exposure and also a camera adaptor that is parfocal with the eyepiece view. Feb.02
• A home made flash device for a Nikon Skt microscope - a useful design which would also be suitable for other microscope models. Mar.02
• Large format B&W photomicroscopy May.00
• Black and white paper negative photomicroscopy - Jul.00
• Photographing micro-organisms- from the simple patch stop to Nomarski contrast Apr.98
• Basics of photomacrography Mar.05

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Techniques - video macroscopy, microscopy and digital imaging

 
• Digital dilemmas - a look at the pros and cons of different routes for the hobbyist to directly digitise macro/micro images. Dec.99
• Digital photomicrography: A brief beginner's guide by a beginner An extensive overview. May.03
• Introduction to digital photomicrography - with particular reference to the practical procedures involved. Jun.03
• Notes on choosing the correct eyepiece and relay lens for photomicrography with digital cameras - the importance of correctly matching optics in digital photography. Feb.02
• Mounting digicams with zoom lenses over the microscope - an adaptor suitable for external and internal zoom digicams. Jan.04
• Trials on scanning prepared microscope slides of large subjects using a Nikon Coolscan IV 35 mm film scanner -using a homemade slide holder with images compared with that taken on a digicam in macro mode. Aug.04
• Image gallery: 'Big' slides - images of large microscope slide subjects created using a Nikon Coolscan IV ED 35mm film scanner. Oct.04
• Notes on using a Minolta 5400 for scanning microscope slides. Comparisons with the Nikon Coolscan design - a comparison of the ease of use and results from this modern high performance scanner with an older Nikon Coolscan model. May.05
• Photomacrography of microscope slides. Investigating alternative imaging routes Nov.04
• Notes on digitising and rejuvenating slide film photomicrographs - David Walker (UK) uses a film scanner to obtain usable images from the less successful images he has taken in the past on slide film. Jul.05
• Macro-photography, a personal equipment retrospective - cameras discussed are the Nikon Coolpix 4500, Sony F717 and F828 and Canon 20D DSLR. Oct.05
• A gun mount for nature photomacrography - a home made camera support he has made for an Olympus E330 DSLR with some examples of the images taken. Sep.06
• Eyes on the Zigview R digital viewfinder Oct.06
• Articles written by students on the Biomedical Photographic Communications (BPC) program November 2006, at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), NY State, USA. Nov.06
• Articles written by students on the Biomedical Photographic Communications (BPC) program November 2006, at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), NY State, USA. Nov.07
• Employing advancing technology to enhance imagery of the microscopic world - creating 3D type images using the latest techniques. Apr.07
• Notes on some SLR/DSLR photomicrography options for the LOMO Biolam Microscope -  three of the photographic accessories available for this popular microscope. Mar.08
• Another microscope camera review - a camera commonly available on eBay. May.08
• Macrophotography of soap bubbles May.08
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• Video cameras (security style, camcorders) for stills or video
• Why use video?- the benefits when studying protozoa Jul.96
• Using your Camcorder as a Microscope Jun.96
• Video microscopy - getting started in black and white Jun.96
• Video microscopy A well-known amateur discusses the setup he uses Apr.97
• Digital macroscopy on a shoestring - secondhand high definition video cameras and lenses from various sources can be the basis of a very high quality macro setup. Aug.99
• Experiments in attaching a video camera to a microscope - domestic camcorders can be adapted for video microscopy. Aug.99
• A video macroscope/microscope project and its use for an interactive exhibit Apr.00
• 8X Everything - buying and using a hand lens, and use with your video camera! Jul. 96
• 8X More further studies with a hand lens Aug.96
• Experiments with a miniature CCD camera - for video microscopy Dec.97